Kathleen F. Burke is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI). She is a key strategic advisor to the Board of Directors of MKS, with extensive experience in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management in a global market. As a member of the company’s executive team, Ms. Burke identifies and oversees implementation of the company’s key long-term organic and transactional growth initiatives. Since joining MKS, she has led the execution of over twenty strategic acquisitions, including entering into an agreement to acquire Atotech Ltd. for $5+ billion in 2021 and two additional $1+ billion acquisitions since 2016. She has led the company through significant crisis management issues, developing strategies to address challenges with government enforcement agencies, public and investor relations, and employee communications. She serves as a corporate officer and/or board member at virtually all of MKS’s 50+ wholly owned subsidiaries. Since joining the company in 2004, Ms. Burke created, staffed and built the company’s global legal department, to support the company’s business needs, and has responsibility for a multimillion-dollar budget.
Ms. Burke served as a member of the Board Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Northeast Chapter from 2009 to 2020, and was the Chapter’s President from 2011 to 2013, and its Vice President and Treasurer from 2009 – 2011. She co-founded the Chapter’s Women’s Initiative and created its NextGen Program for emerging legal leaders.
Ms. Burke previously served on the Board of Directors of the New England Center for Children as well as the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
In 2013, Ms. Burke received a Leaders in the Law award from Mass Lawyers Weekly, Rhode Island In-House and New England In-House journals, honoring in-house lawyers exhibiting significant leadership in the profession.
Ms. Burke graduated magna cum laude from Boston College Law School, where she received both the Order of the Coif and Silver Key awards. She was President of the law school’s chapter of the American Bar Association and directed and co-wrote the school’s satirical comedy show, the “Law Revue”. She graduated summa cum laude from Boston College, and was recognized with Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key Honor Society and Order of the Cross and Crown awards.